Methods and apparatus for watermarking and distributing watermarked content

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for generating and distributing watermarked content are described. Content to be distributed is sliced into a plurality of segments, e.g., short portions. Individual segments are subjected to watermarking with multiple watermarked versions of a segment being generated. Different watermarked versions of a segment communicate different information, e.g., one or more numbers. Sets of watermarked segments corresponding to a program are supplied to a content distribution device. Based on a session number or other information corresponding to the destination of the content, the content distribution device selects watermarked segments from the sets of segments to provide to the user. The combination of segments communicates, via the watermarks, a sequence of numbers used to identify the streamed content without requiring the distribution node to perform image processing to generate the watermarks. When the segments are communicated sequentially, the watermarks can be detected and the identifying numerical sequence extracted.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 493,727, filed Jun. 6, 2011 which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference.FIELD[0002]The present invention relates to watermarking of content and / or the distribution of watermarked content, e.g., digital video and / or audio content such as, for example, movies, television programs, etc.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Video is normally a sequence of images, e.g., video frames. Digital television commonly refers to the digital representation of a rapid sequence of digitized photographic images, e.g., video, or parts thereof in synchronization with one or more digitized audio streams. The streams may be broadcast, as with live programming and many television programs, or played back from a digital recording on a per user basis as with the current Video On Demand (VOD) technology.[0004]The storage of digital television images has converged on the use of the Motio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]The methods and apparatus of the present invention allow video content to be pre-watermarked and combined in such a manner that the combination of watermarked content which is streamed provides information which can be used to identify the location to which the content is being streamed and, in some cases, identify the communications session in which the content is being supplied. Significantly, the content identification methods of the present invention may be implemented without the use of an image watermarking apparatus at the content distribution system which streams the content and without the need to perform complex image processing, e.g., decoding, image manipulation and re-encoding of a frame, at the site from which content is streamed. In fact, the methods and apparatus of present invention allow a watermarking apparatus to be shared between a large number of regional distribution systems since real time watermarking of image content at the time of content streaming to a customer premise is not required.

[0032]In various embodiments, the sequence of watermarks coveys a number or other identification information which can be used to identify the real time content broadcast on a per stream basis without having to generate the watermarks for each of the different streams in real time. Thus, by using conventional advertisement and / or logo insertion techniques and a plurality of differently watermarked versions of advertisements or logos to be inserted, watermarking of real time content streams is possible using the methods of the present invention without having to provide the ability to generate watermarks in real time. Thus one or a few centrally located watermarking apparatus can be used to support watermarking of a large number of content streams by generating watermarked advertisements and / or logos prior to the real time broadcast.

Problems solved by technology

One issue with the application of digital watermarks is the need for enormous computational resources in order to add the watermark in such a fashion so that it goes undetected by those who wish to defeat it.

When streaming thousands of videos per day, the cost of the watermarking equipment which would be required to watermarking individual frames of each video stream, by altering image content within a frame in real time, can become exorbitant.

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